Leslie West first picked up a guitar in anger as it were in the sixties when he was a member of the Vagrants. The Vagrants were just one of many bands on the club circuit on Long Island during the sixties. Two other bands were the Young Rascals and The Hassles, which featured a young Billy Joel. Many people however will remember Leslie West as a founder member of Mountain alongside Felix Papalardi and long time (although not founder) drummer Corky Laing. In fact, aside from a short period of time during the seventies when Leslie was a member of West, Bruce and Laing alongside Corky and former Cream bassist Jack Bruce, Mountain has taken up a large part of Leslie's time. His first solo album entitled Mountain led to the formation of the band of the same name. Leslie's second solo album The Great Fatsby emerged in the mid seventies during a break in Leslie's activities with Mountain and featured many world-renowned musicians including Mick Jagger who allegedly only participated if he could play guitar rather than sing! This album features a number of tracks closely associated with Leslie including Theme for an Imaginary Western and also covers, in the shape of Elvis Presley s Love Me Tender and the Jimi Hendrix song Red House. This album also features Jack Bruce who was of course one third of West Bruce and Laing in the seventies and has recently been collaborating with ROBIN TROWER on our SEVEN MOONS album. Original copies of this album sell for up top $150 on ebay which means this reissue is doubly welcome for Leslie s large and devoted fan base.
J**N
IMAGINARY NOTHING!
Another album that's been sat in my collection for a long time now and sees the light of day on many an occasion as it contains my favourite rendition of "Theme For An Imaginary Western"Forget all the references to Jack Bruce because this here gem of an album is ALL about the vocal chords and the guitar of Leslie West who, once heard, is NEVER forgotten and, whilst probably more known for his work with Mountain, has had a long and fruitful solo career and "THEME" bears witness to that.Certainly, by today's standards, this is only an audio doodle in that it weighs in at only 35 minutes, but, this is all quality material displayed as only Mr West knows how with his big gravelly voice and even bigger guitar sound that leaves you each and every time with a great big grin on your face, even though some of the numbers here are better known from other artists. But, Mr West makes them all his very own - bear witness to "Red House" and "Love Me Tender" (sung as a threat!) and, of course, "Spoonful" and you will see what I mean. And don't forget "Theme ForAn Imaginary Western" which is one of the most haunting pieces of music that either West or Bruce has ever put their name to - simply spine chillingly superlative!Although not the best of all the solo material that Leslie has put out since the late 60's, in my book it has to rate among my top 5 Leslie West albums of all time!
R**N
Excellent cd
A very nice cd, a brilliant re recording of Third Degree with Joe Bonamassa is the highlight for me.
S**L
Brilliant album
Brilliant album still love it
Y**T
Five Stars
Fantastic stuff where have I been all these years without hearing this
M**E
arrived in good time.
well priced... arrived in good time...
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